Theodosius Dobzhansky

Theodosius Dobzhansky (January 25, 1900 – December 18, 1975) was a prominent Ukrainian-American geneticist and evolutionary biologist, and a central figure in the development of the modern synthetic theory of evolution. His work was crucial in bridging the gap between genetics and evolution, demonstrating that genetic mutations introduced by natural selection are the primary mechanism of evolution.

Early Life and Education

Dobzhansky was born in Nemyriv, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. He showed an early interest in biology, and after completing his education at the University of Kyiv, he moved to Saint Petersburg to work with the famous geneticist Hermann Joseph Muller, who introduced him to the study of Drosophila, a genus of small fly that has been widely used in genetic studies.

Career

In 1927, Dobzhansky emigrated to the United States, where he would spend the majority of his professional career. He joined the faculty of the Columbia University in New York City, where he collaborated with Alfred Sturtevant and Thomas Hunt Morgan, two other leading figures in the field of genetics. In 1940, he published his seminal work, Genetics and the Origin of Species, which synthesized Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection with modern genetics. This work laid the foundation for the modern synthetic theory of evolution, integrating genetics with paleontology, systematics, and ecology.

Dobzhansky's research focused on the genetic diversity of natural populations, particularly in Drosophila. He conducted extensive fieldwork, collecting and studying these flies throughout the Americas. His studies on the genetic variation within and between populations helped to demonstrate the genetic basis of evolutionary adaptation and speciation.

Legacy

Dobzhansky's contributions to evolutionary biology were immense. He was a prolific writer, publishing numerous articles and books that helped to popularize the science of genetics and its evolutionary implications. His famous statement, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution," underscores the central role of evolutionary theory in the biological sciences.

He was awarded numerous honors for his work, including the National Medal of Science in 1964. Dobzhansky was also a key figure in the evolution-creationism debate, advocating for the teaching of evolution in public schools.

Death and Posthumous Recognition

Dobzhansky died of heart failure in 1975 in Davis, California. His legacy continues through the Theodosius Dobzhansky Prize, awarded by the Society for the Study of Evolution to outstanding young evolutionary biologists.

See Also

• Evolutionary biology
• Genetics
• Synthetic theory of evolution
• Drosophila